See your home through different eyes

We've lived here for three years," Oglesby said, "and I just needed some guidance. I wasn't sure what to do with the room, and especially how to arrange the furniture."

Guidance showed up on Oglesby's doorstep last week in the form of Anne Collier, owner and operator of "I Love It" Interiors.

Collier, a member of the Interior Arrangement and Design Association, takes the things already in your house and gives your rooms a makeover, makeovers that are often so transformational that you really do have to see it to believe it.

Collier first had Oglesby e-mail her pictures of the room, to get a feel for the room layout and the items in the room. She then talked to Oglesby about what the room's primary function is and what the needs for the room are.

Oglesby had first been introduced to Collier's craft when she made over a room for Ogelsby's sister. So at this stage of the makeover, Oglesby said she was simply excited and looking forward to having her room done.

"I had no fears about what Anne would do," Oglesby said. "I wasn't nervous at all."

Collier and her assistant showed up at the appointed day and quizzed Oglesby on any special concerns.

"We always find out if there is anything that we absolutely have to leave in the room," Collier said. She then shooed Ogelsby out of the house and got to work.

Collier said they always empty the entire room first thing.

"It gives us a blank canvas to work with," she said.

Collier then studies the room for architectural details, noting elements to enhance and elements to diminish. Ogelsby's living room, she noted, is very linear, so she wanted to focus on softening up the angular lines, and filling up the space.

She identified the room's focal points - an armoire and fire place - and placed the sofa at an angle that allowed it to face both of those focal points.

In addition to angling the furniture, Collier further softened the room by replacing two tall pieces of art on the mantle with round, decorative plates. She moved the artwork onto a large, relatively blank wall, making the most use out of the space. Collier also added quite a bit of greenery, to the room, including two tall floor plants; some candles and an additional lamp.

Furniture was placed closer together, and a sofa table that had been placed against a wall was moved behind the sofa, creating a snug, intimate atmosphere.

"My main goal was to make the seating arrangement cozier and the room more welcoming," Collier said.

Collier called Oglesby about 30 minutes before she was finished. Oglesby said that she didn't feel anything until she got into her neighborhood, and that's when the butterflies started swarming in her stomach.

"I was just so excited," she said. "More than I thought I'd be. I just had a huge feeling of anticipation."

The big reveal - Collier's favorite part of her job - did not disappoint.

"I was floored," Oglesby said. "It looked so different. I couldn't believe she had done so much with just my stuff."

Room makeovers prove that sometimes all it takes is a different perspective to give a room - or even your whole house - a brand new look. And it's a lot cheaper than buying all new furniture, Collier pointed out.

Even some simple steps can make worlds of difference, she said, like avoiding these top five mistakes that people make when decorating their home:

1. Putting the sofa and other furnishings against a wall. "It doesn't make for a very cozy atmosphere."

2. Relying too much on overhead light or the ceiling fan light. "It's what I call 'last-call lighting.' Lamps are so much better, more welcoming. More lamps are always a good idea."

5. Being too hesitant to add color. "You shouldn't have too many white walls. Use your rug or a piece of artwork in the room to set the wall color."

Collier also pointed out that refreshing your room during the seasons can be relatively easy and inexpensive. For spring, she suggested buying a few lighter colored throw pillows or a lighter colored blanket for the back of the couch. You can also use lighter or pastel-colored candles in the spring, and even buy an inexpensive picture to hang up, such as a picture of tulips. And with candles, pillows and blankets, it's easy to change back to darker colors during the fall and winter seasons.

Anyone who has had a room makeover can tell you that it's a decision you'll never regret. For one thing, Collier pointed out, it validates the decorating choices that you've already made, showing you that the accessories and furniture you've picked out really does look good.

And if you're in a decorating rut, Ogelsby added, it's definitely a must.

"It's a great way to shake things up and see things with different eyes," she said.